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Since Awesome Window Manager is mainly a window manager, and not quite a full desktop environment, I don't know how to manage the concept of default applications.

Without a desktop environment installed, where do I go to configure which web-browser gets launched upon clicking a hyperlink within an application that simply expects my environment to provide a default web browser for servicing URL clicks?

Lonnie Best
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1 Answers1

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Apart from xdg-utils, using the alternatives mechanism will help you. On Debian (and most distros nowadays I think) it's already there, no need to install anything. I'll give you some examples regarding urls, web:

update-alternatives --list x-www-browser
update-alternatives --query x-www-browser
sudo update-alternatives --config x-www-browser

The last command (notice sudo, it makes changes, the 1st and 2nd are view only) will present you a menu to choose the default browser.

Have a look also (--query, --list) on gnome-www-browser. Probably www-browser too, if you use cli/tui browsers like lynx or w3m.

A bit more advanced, if you need to add an app or change priorities:

sudo update-alternatives --install /usr/bin/x-www-browser x-www-browser /opt/LatestFirefox/firefox 300

Higher number, higher priority. You can then run,

sudo update-alternatives --config x-www-browser

And you'll see the new app among the choices.

There is a a GUI package, galternatives for easier viewing of all the available alternatives. But I don't trust it for making changes, it doesn't always works for me.

Krackout
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